Alternate juror sent home

ONE of the alternate jurors in the conspiracy to murder trial of Jamaat Al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr has been sent home. The male juror, who had been sequestered for the past two weeks with the nine-member panel and four other alternates, was discharged after Justice Mark Mohammed,  presiding in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court, held an in-camera inquiry in his Chambers.

Around 2 pm yesterday, Justice Mohammed indicated to attorneys that a problem had arisen with one of the jurors and he decided to conduct an in-camera inquiry. He invited attorneys from both the prosecution and defence to his Chambers while he conducted the inquiry. Mohammed returned 50 minutes later and said that based on his inquiry, he was exercising his discretion to discharge the juror. The packed court room was silent as Mohammed thanked the juror for serving. The man, alternate juror number 3, then stood up. Even lead defence attorney Pamela Elder SC said she was sorry that this juror was not going the full distance. After the judge discharged him, the man, with some lively steps, deserted the courtroom, leaving behind his fellow jurors with whom he had spent weeks at a Port-of-Spain hotel.

Before adjourning the case, Mohammed agreed to allow Bakr to attend the usual Friday Juma service today at Mucurapo Road. The judge pointed out that he intends to deal with  requests for an early adjournment on Fridays to allow the accused to attend his religious services. Although agreeing to today’s service, Justice Mohammed said this issue was facing the courts more frequently. He said while sitting in the courts, jurors have asked him for time off for two hours to attend to their religious functions. “The Judiciary has to sit down and work out some policy as a multi-religious society,” Mohammed added.

With court expected to end at 12.30 pm, Mohammed stated that hearing would begin at eight o’clock this morning. Three witnesses gave evidence yesterday. Virginia Bowen, mother of Jillia Bowen, who was shot dead at MovieTowne on June 4, 2003; WPC Landa-Lou Goodgridge, of the Police Crime Scenes Unit, and Sgt Wayne Dick, now attached to the Special Anti-Crime Unit. Dick told the jury that he met with State witness Brent Miller on several occasions. After one such meeting, he went to St Ann’s where a bare-backed man emerged from behind a house and handed him a bag which contained two guns, a magazine and 41 rounds of ammunition. Dick said he could not identify the man as this happened in a dark track, opposite to the car park in St Ann’s.